Latch needle for knitting machines



June 12, 1928. 1,673,767

R. H. LAWSON LATCH NEEDLE FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Dec. 9, 1926 5 /5 rm; 5 A;

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Patented June 12, 1928.

UNITED STATES.

r 1,673,767 PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT E. LAWSON, F PAWTUCKET, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR T0 HEMPHILL OOH- IPANY, OF CENTRAL FALLS, RHODE ISLAND, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

LATCH NEEDLE FOR KNITTING HAdHINES.

Application filed December 9, 1926. Serial No. 153,605.

This invention relates to latch needles fol knitting machines.

In order that the principle of the invention may be readily understood, I have disclosed a single embodiment thereof in the accompanying drawing wherein Figure 1 is a side elevation, with the upper portion in vertical section, of a latch needle embodying my invention; 4

Figure 2 is a front edge or face view thereof;

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the upper portion of the needle shown in Figure 1, representing the latch as fully open and the needle as being used for plating;

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 but representing the latch as partly closed;

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 3 but representing the latch as fully closed; and

Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are views similar to Figs. 3, 4 and 5, respectively, but in front or face view.

An important purpose of my invention is to provide a latch needle for use in knitting machines, of the independent needle type particularly, wherein the thread or threads will not be cut or otherwise impaired by the latch in the closing action thereof. My invention is particularly adapted for use in plating and without limiting my invention wholly thereto I have in the drawing shown and will describe the needle as particularly adapted for plating.

In the usual construction of latch needles, the latch 1 is pivoted at 2 to the shank 3 at a suitable distance below the hook 4. The pivot 2 is' enerally a rivet upon which the latch freefy swings in the opening and closing action in a manner well known in the art. The tendency of the closing latch, as is evident from an inspection of Figures 6 and 7 is to shear, or impair the thread or yarn as the latch is closing' In other words, the latch 1 has a scissor-like action with respect to the front face or edge of the needle stem between the pivot 2 and the hook t and this impairing action is accentuated if the needle be employed for plating. In such.

use of ordinary latch needles it is exceedingly common to have the lowermost of the two yarns or threads frayed more or less or even severed by the scissor-like action of the closing latch. An important pur ose of my invention is to overcome this do ect. I

As clearly shown the stem 5 of the needle pivot 2 is mounted the freely swinging latch entrant angle,

, substantially in parallelism, though the outer edge is desirably slightly outwardly swelled.

(which may be of any'suitable construction and which is here shown as having an integral butt 6) is provided with a lengthwise extending slot 7 of substantially usual formation. The needle is provided with a hook 8 of any suitable construction and which is here shown as a forwardly extending hook but which within the scope-of my invention may be of any suitable'construction. That 1s to say, the back wall 9 of the hook 8 is in advance oftheback wall of the stem 5 and this type of needle hook is advantageous for plating. p

Within the slot 7 upon a suitable rivet or 70 11. This latchfrom the tip or spoon 12 down to the shoulder 13 which forms a reis substantially parallel walled-that is, its inner and outer edges are Below the shoulder 13 the latch is provided with a cammed or swell formation 14 substantially as shown and which is in. marked contrast with the straight inner edge of the usual latch.

In order to form the latch 11 I, in effect, form a notch angle or recess 11 on the inner edge of the latch and in or er that such notch or recess shall not weaken the latch, the outer edge 15 of the latch 11 is swelled slightly outward so as to compensate fort I the formation of the notch or recess constitutingthe shoulder or re-entrant angle 13.

The side of the notch or angle which is the closer to the latch pivot when the latch is closed, also constitutes a support for the yarn or yarns in said closed position. In Figures 3, 4 and 5 I have shown the needle as used for plating and as therein represented, the two threads 16, 17 are within or just below the hook 8. In the closing of the latch 11 by the two threads 18, 19, constituting the old loop, it will be .observed that the two threads 16, 17 are cammed or forced upwardly toward the hook by thecam or swell surface or formation 14 and that when the latch 11 is fully closed, the inner edge 20 of the latch above the cam 14 is sufficiently removed from the inner face 21 of the stem to prevent either one of the yarns or threads 16, 17 from being impaired or severed. The construction also prevents small fibers of either of the yarns nor swell formation 14.

While I have particularly explained my invention with reference to plating, it is evident that my invention is of importance when using a single yarn, for substantially the same general reasons.

I am aware that it has heretoforebeen proposed to provide the latch of a knitting needle with an enlarged eye as shown for example in the patent to Kornborfer No. 1,032,613, but the formation of the latch there shown is merely incidental to the provision of the enlarged eye and the inner edge of the latch is not provided with a cam formation nor is the needle shown in said patent particularly adapted for a plating operation.

The needle of my invention is adapted to be used with yarn or thread of any charac' ter, Whether silk, cotton, lisle, rayon, linen orother material.

Having thus described; one embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that ,although specific terms are employed, they are used for purposes of description merely and not for limitations, the scope of the invention being set forth in the following claims. v

I claim: 7

, 1. A latch needle for knitting machines having a pivoted latch, said latch having a notch or' reentrant angle, that side of the notch or reentrant angle which is the closer to the latch pivot when the latch is in' closed. relation to the hook being substantially perpendicular to the shank of the hook, the

other side of the notch or reentrant angle being spaced away from the shank of the hook and-being in substantially parallel relation thereto when the latch is in closed relation to the point of the hook.

2. A latch needle for knitting machines having a pivoted latch, said latch having a notch or reentrant angle, that side of the notch or reentrant angle which is the closer to the latch pivot when the latch is in closed relation to thehook constituting a well defined shoulder extending abruptly from the other side of the notch for the reception ofa yarn or yarns without biting or severing the same, and also constituting a support for the yarn in the closed position of the latch, the said other side of the notch or reentrant angle being spaced away from the shank of the hook when the latch is in closed relation to thepoint of the hook, sufliciently to accommodate a yarn or yarns upon said shoulder without biting or severing the same.

3.. A latch needle for knitting machines having a pivoted latch, said latch having a notch or reentrant angle, that side of the notch or reentrant angle which is the closer to the'latch pivot when the latch is in closed relation to the hook being of a convex form and constituting a cam formation to move the imprisoned yarn or yarns toward the hook in the closing action of the latch, and also constituting a support for the yarn in the closedposit-ion of the latch, the other side of the notch or reentrant angle being spaced away from the shank of the hook sufficiently to permit the reception of a yarn or yarns upon said cam formation without biting or severing the same.

4:. A latch needle for knitting machines having a pivoted latch, said latch having a notch or reentrant angle, that side of the notch or reentrant angle which is the closer to the latch pivot when the latch is in closed relation to the hook being of a convex form and constituting a cam formation to move notch or reentrant angle, that side of the notch or reentrant angle which is the closer to the latch pivot when the latch is 'in closed relation to the hook constituting a support for the yarn,when the latch is in closed position. I y

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

ROBERT H. LAWSON. 

